Free Download: “Little Red Apples”
This is one of many counting songs I’ve written, which focuses on counting both up to 5 and down from 5. I created simple apple visual aides (using red construction paper and then laminating) which my students can then manipulate as we count.
Click here to download the mp3 and lyrics/chords.
P.S. If you want access to my entire collection of over 200 songs (mp3, lead sheet, and instrumental track), videos, tutorials, and visual aides, plus ALL new releases from Listen & Learn Music, consider joining me over at Listen & Learn Plus!
It’s Time for Us to Go, Oh-Oh-Oh!
The end of a month-long Church Mice session is always a little bittersweet. On one hand, it’s nice to have Sunday afternoons to myself again until the next session begins; on the other hand, I miss the fun times with my sweet kiddos. I mean, just look at those faces!
My helpful husband came to our last class of the winter session earlier this month and caught some of the action. (You can see all 60+ pictures here.) One of the best parts is the hugs and thank you’s I get after we’ve sung the Church Mice goodbye song:
Listen & Learn vets may recognize this song as a repurposing of the goodbye song I wrote for my students at The Hope Institute a couple years ago. That’s one of the great things about my different jobs: there’s lots of overlap :)
I’m already gearing up for the spring session of Church Mice, which begins the first Sunday in May. But until then, I’m going to enjoy my free Sunday afternoons!
Birthday Fun for My Studio’s Mascot
Even though Sadie spends her afternoons romping around with her cousin at my in-laws’ house (so as to keep her occupied while I work with students), I still refer to her as the official Music Therapy Connections studio mascot. After all, my students know her and ask about her all the time, plus she’s my constant companion as I blog away and plan music therapy sessions. Sadie even makes a star appearance in one of my songs.
So how do we plan to celebrate the big 2? This is one spoiled pup to begin with, which means we’ll have to outdo ourselves today. Sadie’s favorite treat is a peanut butter-filled Kong, and today she’ll get an upgrade from the mini to the full-sized version. My little girl is growing up!
Sadie is still a bit hyper, which is why I keep her out of the way of students as they come and go. But I can’t wait for the day she calms down and can handle a little more interaction every once in a while. I know a few kids who look forward to that day, as well :)
If you see this dog today, please wish her happy birthday!
Sunday Singalong: Boogie Baby
This song was a staple right out of internship, when my repertoire was still small and I hadn’t yet thrown myself into heavy-duty songwriting. So my students heard it a LOT that first year, and it climbed to the top of the “hits list” right away.
But as my repertoire grew and most of the songs I used in music therapy sessions were my own, “Boogie Baby” fell by the wayside. In fact, during one class’s Total Request Live edition of music therapy, we all racked our brains but for the life of us, could not think of the song everyone used to love so much.
They finally did think of it, and then the following week, another class made a list of “Rachel’s Hits” for a CD to play in the classroom. Sure enough, “Boogie Baby” was on that list! Since it came up twice in such a short time span, I figured it was time to feature the song in a video.
Are you familiar with this fun little tune? If so, maybe you can clue me in on its origins, since I heard it for the first (and last) time from my internship supervisor. I think it will be making an appearance in some of my upcoming sessions!
Friday Fave: Planet Waves Pro String Winder
You know what’s really NOT fun? Trying to string an acoustic guitar without this handy little tool. I know, because I’ve done it both ways. And I had no idea what I was missing, until I shelled out the $8 and realized how much time and elbow (wrist?) grease I’d wasted previously.
The Planet Waves Pro String Winder not only winds the pegs, but it also snips off the leftover part of the strings. My favorite feature is the fact that it can also pull out the bridge pins, which I’ve always had the hardest time doing with my fingers.
I always dreaded stringing my guitar before, but I’m happy to report that is no longer the case! I’m probably the last person on earth to discover this super convenient little tool…but I’m writing about it here just in case I’m not :) Do you use the Pro Winder, or something similar?
Studio Renovation: The “Before” Pictures
Yesterday, I came home to a giant hole in my house. That may sound like a bad thing, but I promise…it’s not! Renovations for my new studio are now officially underway, so I thought I’d better share some “before” snapshots of the space in its original condition. Note: click to enlarge pictures.
My dog Sadie decided that she wanted to get in on the picture-taking action :) Here she is, posing in the hallway that will soon be separated from the rest of the house with a door. To the right is the bathroom, straight ahead is my new office/studio, next to that is a closet, and on the far left (which you can’t see in this picture) will be the waiting room.
Here’s the bathroom. We aren’t going to be making any changes to it, but hey, I just thought I’d throw it in with the rest of the pictures since it will technically be included in the new space.
Here’s the view of my future office/studio from the hallway. (It was formerly used as a guest room.) Both the flooring and wall color will be different.
Here’s another view of the room. I’m thinking the piano will go on the wall where the baker’s rack is right now. Oh, and you might see that baker’s rack again later, only looking a little different :)
This closet actually extends across the entire wall inside. My current studio does not have a closet…I’m so excited to have the storage space for materials I don’t necessarily want out in plain sight.
Here’s the future waiting room! Right now, this room is completely wasted, so it will be nice when it actually serves a purpose. The wall color will stay the same, but the floor will be different. To the right of the closet, there will be a door for entering/exiting from outside.
Another view of the room. Those chairs are extras that go with our kitchen table, so they will not be in the new waiting room. I’m already in search of furniture…any ideas?
One last view from the opposite corner. I’m thinking I’ll use part of the closet for coats, but I’m not sure what else. I’m also toying with the idea of leaving the keyboard and bench in the waiting room so that students can practice before their lesson (with headphones, of course).
The contractors worked from 8 am to 6:30 pm yesterday, and their progress is pretty phenomenal. I’ll be sharing more pictures of the process in the coming days and weeks, and look forward to your feedback and decorating ideas!
12 Songs Every Music Therapist Should Know
Your list might look different from mine, but based on my experience, here are the 12 songs that I think can be used with just about any music therapy client, regardless of age, diagnosis, or ability.
- “American Pie” – This song is obviously a classic, and I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like singing along to the chorus. It might not be your first pick for a piggybacked children’s goodbye song, but it was mine :)
- “Amazing Grace” – It’s most often associated with seniors and hospice patients, though everyone should have a few hymns in their collection.
- “Blue Suede Shoes” – My students dig this tune, even though most of them have no clue who Elvis Presley is! Older clients, of course, are familiar with both him and the song.
- “Blue Skies” – I use this as a weather song sometimes, or to give everyone a mood lift. It has always been one of my favorite songs.
- “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” – This one is great for discussing positive feelings, and I use it often as the basis of a songwriting activity.
- “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” – Also known as “In the Jungle” or “Wimoweh”, I adapted it for young children and sing the original version on a regular basis.
- “Lean on Me” – It’s all about knowing there are people to support you, and that’s applicable to everyone. Plus, it’s repetitive and easy to sing.
- “Ob-La-Di” – Did you know that this song makes an excellent hello song? I rewrote the words a few years ago, and use it all the time.
- “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” – I think a lot of people have an emotional connection to this song. It’s interesting to hear what’s “over the rainbow” for clients who are verbal and capable of abstract thinking.
- “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” – Baseball is America’s pastime, right? It’s fun to bring out this song every spring and hear about everyone’s favorite teams.
- “This Little Light of Mine” – I learned this song for my internship interview and have been singing it ever since. As a movement song, as an inspirational song, and however else I feel like adapting it on a given day.
- “You Are My Sunshine” – A traditional song that almost everyone knows. It’s easy to adapt for just about any client and setting.
Speaking of songs for music therapists, members of Listen & Learn Plus have instant access to my vast collection of over 200 songs (mp3, lead sheet, and instrumental track), videos, tutorials, and visual aides, plus ALL new releases from Listen & Learn Music. Click here for a free inside look, including several useful downloads!
Change is In the Air…And My Studio!
This week not only marks the beginning of spring, but also the beginning of a BIG project at my house. I’ve hinted at this in my newsletter, but now the cat is coming out of the bag: my studio is moving!
Yep, that’s right…my home studio and private practice is moving from its current location (pictured above) all the way to the other side of my house. I’m sure going to miss this beautiful room full of windows, but it will make a nice nursery someday.
So why in the world would I decide to move when I have such a great setup now? A couple reasons, actually. First of all, my living room doubles as the waiting room for my students and their families. And since I work up until 7 pm and later some nights, my poor husband and puppy are banished until my last student has left. Second, I wanted a more dedicated studio space with a separate entrance. Currently, everyone enters and exits through the front door and has full access to my home. However, that will change once the move is complete.
The contractor is coming tomorrow to start the renovation of my new studio space, and I can’t wait. The flooring has been ordered, paint colors chosen, and my head is full of decorating schemes. I’ll be documenting the entire renovation and moving process, of course — stay tuned for one last tour of my current studio, and before pictures of the new space!
Mammals In the Water (A Custom Song)
First came The Texas Pledge song, then Help Me, Rhombus, followed by A-Z (What You Mean to Me). My #1 customer when it comes to custom songs is Rene, and she was back this month in need of a song that combined info about water mammals with specific speech sounds. Thus, “Mammals in the Water” came to be.
Rene chose to highlight manatees, narwhals, walruses, and seals in this particular song, and I had a lot of fun doing the research necessary to write the verses about each creature. The rhyming was a little tricky, but both Rene and I are happy with the results…and hopefully her pre-kindergarten students will be, too!
Ooh, mammals – they’re everywhere.
You and I are mammals, we have hair and breathe air.
So are lots of animals you’d find at the zoo,
And even some that live in the water, too!
MAH, MAH, MAH…MANATEES!
They live in the water and they swim so slow,
They’re gray in color and eat plants, you know.
Manatees are gentle even though they’re really big,
With their flippers and their tail and snout (like a pig).
Mah, mah, mah.
CHORUS
NAH, NAH, NAH…NARWHALS!
They travel through the sea; their long tusk leads the way,
They eat fish and shrimp and squid all day.
Narwhals are a special kind of whale,
They swim in groups and their bodies are pale.
Nah, nah, nah.
CHORUS
WAH, WAH, WAH…WALRUSES!
They live in the Arctic, on the ice so cold,
But their blubber on their body keeps them warm, I’m told.
Walruses have whiskers and tusks so long,
Their bodies are brown and huge and strong.
Wah, wah, wah.
CHORUS
SAH, SAH, SAH…SEALS!
They live both on land and in the sea,
And their whiskers help them find lots of fish to eat.
Seals can be black, or gray, or brown,
And they make a funny grunting sound.
Sah, sah, sah.
Ooh, mammals – they’re everywhere.
Just like us, these animals have hair and breathe air.
But they don’t live in a house or at the zoo,
Mammals live in the water, too!
Sunday Singalong: Wave Goodbye to Winter
It’s here! It’s here! Hellooooo, SPRING! My students and I have been singing Wave Goodbye to Winter all month long in anticipation of the new season, and though I had planned to feature this song in last week’s video, laryngitis got in the way.
As you can tell by listening, the song was written to be sung before spring actually begins. But I’ll continue singing it for the rest of March with just two minor lyric changes:
Sing because spring is finally here.
Sing because the sky is blue and clear.
Sing with the birds, up in the tree,
Sing and clap your hands with me.
When I started writing this song last year, I didn’t intend for it to be a movement song. But it’s hard not to move and dance around when you’re singing about something as happy as waving goodbye to winter…am I right?
Friday Fave: Weekend in Chicago
Confession: this post has nothing to do with music therapy, education, or children. But I’m so excited for my trip to the Windy City this weekend that I couldn’t resist writing about it. It’s been a long winter full of work-related weekend obligations, which means this trip — which has NOTHING to do with work — is the perfect way to ring in spring.
Our little weekend getaway does have something to do with my husband’s work, but that’s a good thing. Every March, his company invites its top performers to Chicago for a hotel stay and awards banquet. Zach and I have attended for the last 4 years, and this will be his 2nd year receiving the Agent of the Year title.
So that’s what we’ll be up to on Saturday night. But we’re heading out this afternoon with plans for a fancy dinner tonight followed by an overnight stay in a suite at the Wyndham Hotel. We love trying out new hotels every time we visit Chicago; back in August, we stayed at the super-cool W Hotel, and on Saturday night Zach’s company is putting us up at the Sax Hotel. Our favorite is the Peninsula, but you have to take out a small loan in order to stay there :)
Ahh, a weekend full of eating out, dressing up, and relaxing. It doesn’t get much better than that. What are your plans for this weekend? Hopefully they’re equally as fun!